Prestigious Sail GP returns to Portsmouth in 2026 with Southsea again set to be transformed into a magnificent sailing village
The prestigious sailing event Sail GP is making a return to Portsmouth with Southsea again set to be transformed into a magnificent sailing village.
Following the sold-out debut success this year, Portsmouth will once again host the event on July 25 and 26 with Castle Field and the surrounding area transformed, with tickets due to go on sale on Friday, November 21.
Marking the start of the European leg of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth will be even bigger with 13 national teams set to race in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans faster than wind speeds over 100 km/h.
At this summer’s event the Great British team was pipped at the post and finished second in front of their home crowd of supportive fans.
SailGP Managing Director, Andrew Thompson, said: “Portsmouth delivered one of our most entertaining and dramatic events during the 2025 season – and we are expecting to build on that in 2026, as tickets go on sale next week.
“It is fantastic to be returning to Great Britain, a country with a large, dedicated, passionate and knowledgeable racing fan base who came out in force during the 2025 season. Portsmouth was among the highest-rated by SailGP fans in 2025. We are looking forward to going bigger and better once again, welcoming thousands of fans to enjoy the signature SailGP experience – both on and off the water – in the Race Stadium and throughout the local community.
“I’d like to thank Emirates and all of our partners together with the supportive stakeholders in Portsmouth who will make it possible for SailGP to deliver an unforgettable event once again.”
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, also welcomed the event’s return which he said was a real boost for the local economy which SailGP said was worth £9million.
"We are looking forward to welcoming Sail GP back to Portsmouth as the UK destination in 2026 after its successful debut here this summer,” he said. "The event brings top-class international sailing to the Solent for residents and visitors to experience, boosting our local tourism economy and allowing children and adults to try out sailing and other activities."
He added that he was aware of some residents concerns with the promenade between Blue Reef and the Pyramids closed for two weeks, as well as Castle Field and the Band Stand Field, while the event’s infrastructure was constructed and dismantled.
He said: "We have listened to feedback from residents and will work with the organiser to keep disruption to a minimum, ensuring the area of the promenade needed for the event will be closed for as short a time as possible, and people can still access other parts of the seafront freely.
"We want to continue to bring top-class sailing events here for residents and visitors to experience, which boosts our local tourism economy and allows children and adults to try out sailing and other activities."
Marking SailGP’s return to Great Britain after a three season hiatus, nearly 20,000 ticketed fans watched the Black Foils deny Emirates GBR a home win – while racegoers were also entertained by international music acts Tom Grennan and DJ Pete Tong.
Fans can expect more than just world-class racing with the addition of SailGP’s signature Après-Sail music celebrations, transforming the waterfront into a high-energy celebration of sport and entertainment. Premium hospitality experiences will offer luxury beach club setting, gourmet food and drink, and exclusive access to team celebrations.
Emirates GBR SailGP Team Driver Dylan Fletcher said: "We can't wait to be back racing in Portsmouth next year. It was an epic event this summer and even though we just missed out on the win, having the support of the 20,000 British fans in the grandstand was incredible.
“There's nothing like racing in front of a home crowd, and it was next level in Portsmouth as we were racing so close to the shore that we could hear the cheers as we came flying past the grandstand. We're buzzing to get back out on The Solent and hope we can come away with the win next year."
Tickets start at £70 for an adult ticket and £112 for a weekend ticket and are available at sailgp.com/tickets. Tickets offering the best views and best prices will go on sale exclusively for those registered on SailGP+ on Wednesday, November 19 before the general sale at the end of the week.